47
And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
48
And Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took an ax in his hand and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people who were with him, "What ye have seen me do, make haste and do as I have done."
49
And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough and followed Abimelech, and put them to the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire upon them, so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
50
Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez and took it.
51
But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women and all those of the city, and shut it to them and went up to the top of the tower.
52
And Abimelech came unto the tower and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
53
And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head and broke his skull.
54
Then he called hastily unto the young man, his armorbearer, and said unto him, "Draw thy sword and slay me, that men say not of me, `A woman slew him.'" And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
55
And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
56
Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father in slaying his seventy brethren.
57
And all the evil of the men of Shechem God returned upon their heads, and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.